Sedgwick County KSGenWeb
Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.
Chapman Brothers 1888
Pages 914 - 917
MERRITT D. CANADAY, who is retired from active business, is now a prominent citizen of Mulvane. He has been engaged in various enterprises since coming to Kansas in 1871, and has by shrewd judgment, excellent management, and fair business transactions, acquired sufficient property to enable him now, while yet in the prime of life, to give up business cares, and enjoy the result of his former labors.
The subject of this sketch was born in Davis County, Mo., in 1841, being the son of John J. and Sophia (Smith) Canaday, natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania respectively. His mother died in 1853, and his father in 1857. After his parents' death our subject continued his educational studies for awhile, and then started in business on his own account, soon becoming a self-supporting member of society. He removed to Missouri, and at the breaking out of the late Civil War enlisted in his country's defense, becoming a member of the 5th Kansas Cavalry, in which he served until 1864. He was actively engaged the greater part of the time, being in the following battles, namely: At Osceola, Mo., under the command of James Lane; at Morristown, Mo., where Col. Johnstone lost his life; Drywood; Curtis' raid from Missouri; battle of Helena, July 4, 1863, where his horse was shot from under him; capture of Little Rock, Ark.; Pine Bluff, Ark; Steele's raid to Camden, on the Washita River, where part of the regiment was captured on the retreat at Mark's Mill, and where our subject had another horse shot. After valiant service in the army, Mr. Canaday returned to his former home in DeWitt County, Ill., where he resumed life as a private citizen.
In 1868 our subject was married to Miss A. J. Bowles, daughter of J. P. and Maria Bowles, natives of Kentucky. They removed from their native State to Illinois in 1836, and in that State their daughter, now Mrs. Canaday, was born Sept. 17, 1847. They afterward removed to Kansas, and are still residents of Sedgwick County.
Mr. and Mrs. Canaday removed to Salem Township three years after their marriage, where he preempted the southwest quarter of section 26, which he still owns. He improved the land, erected a house and barn, and lived there until his removal to Mulvane in 1882, where he occupies the handsome dwelling which he had built in the north part of the city. After coming here Mr. Canaday became a dealer in grain and live stock, entering into a partnership with Mr. Brown, under the firm name of Brown & Canaday. He afterward engaged in the lumber business with B. H. Ward, buying out the Chicago Lumber Company, and continuing in the same until 1887. He is now practically retired from active work, although his time is pretty well occupied in looking after his extensive property interests. Mr. Canaday has greatly aided the growth of Mulvane, and has been instrumental in the building up of the city, both in the business and residence parts, having erected homes in each quarter. He is prominently identified with the local management of the city, where his aid and judgment are often called into requisition, and he has ably filled the office of Councilman. In politics Mr. Canaday is a member of the Democratic party. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. K., has belonged to the I. O. O. F., and has been a Granger. Both he and his excellent wife are communicants of the Christian Church in the city of Nulvane. The pleasant home circle of our subject and his wife consists of three children, namely: Emma, who was born July 24, 1870; Charles, Feb. 12, 1874, and Anna, May 15, 1878.[ Home ]
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